Cartridge shell and process of making the same



July 29, 1930. A. s. oNElLl-:T AL "1,771,898

l CARTRIDGE SHELL AND PROCESS OF MAKING' THE SAIE i med Nov. 21, 1925 -Patented July 1930 UNITED srArEs PATENT OFFICE Amarins. ONEIL, ALroNs o. scHUnIcH'r, AND JOHN n. OLIN, or AL'roN, ILLINOIS,

AssIeNons 'ro WESTERN cAmBIDGE COMPANY, or EAST ALTON, ILLINOIS, A oon- PQRATION F DELAWARE CARTRIDGE SHELL 4ANI) PBOCEYSS OAF KAKING THE SAME Application filedA November 21, 1925. rSerial No. 70,646.

This invention relates -to Icartridges or shot shells, and more particularly to base wads employed therein.

' 5 A shotv shell usually comprises 'a metal base having a tube usually of paper inserted therein and in the base of the shell is a base- Wad which is condensed therein and around the primer socket or cup, thereby forming a 0 base seal against the escape' of gases. Heretofore base-wads for shot shells have been formed byl 'winding strips of paper into a roll, inserting the same into the papertube and setting or condensing the same by pres- 5 sure on a shell heading machine, as, for instance, described in Patent No.11,541,438, issued June. 9, 1925. In some processes the paper.v is coated with an adhesive gum or resln to cause better adhesion between theo layers of paper. Due to the fact, however, that paper is porous and that the union loetween the layers is never complete, there is always the probability that the gases formed when the shell is red will penetrate the basecauses such defects as cut-olf and split shells, blown. out primers, gas-leaks, etc. More- -over paper is not really plastic but is more or less resllient'; accordingly. even when subo jected to the heavy pressures in heading machines, the base-wad will not set completely in its final condition, but will spring back to. a more or less extent after the release ofv` v the compressing plunger; accordingly the desired perfect seal against the high pressures developed in the gun is not attained. Moreover upon ring of the shell and development `of the pressure, the gas will rather leak through passages than close the 40 same by any pressurevon the base-wad surfaces. Y

One of the objects of this invention, therefore, is to provide a base-wad which overcomes the objectionable features referred to,

4'5 and which will form a continuous and solid jected to the pressure in the heading maf' body.

shell, the base-wad of which is plastic ,and non-resilient so that it will iow when'sub wad 'arid cause it to fracture, which in turnv Another object is to provide a cartridge chine and set in that condition so as to form a complete and eective seal. v d

Another Objectis to-provide a cartridge shell, the base-wad of which is 'non-resilient and becomes plastic under the pressures developed in the gun when the shell is fired so that it will flow into close sealing engagement with the shell and primer socket or battery cup so as to make and maintain an effective gas seal. I

Further objects will appear from the detail description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a sectional view showing the formation of the base-wad embodying this invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view showing the base-wad assembled in the shell;

'Figure 3 is a similar view showing the step in the process of condensing the base-wad and interlockingthe parts of the shell; and

Figure 4 is a-perspective view, partly in section, showing the parts interlocked.

ln accordance with this invention, the basewad may be of any suitable material having the. desired characteristics. This material ispreferably such that it will flow when subjectedto pressures, either cold or at elevated temperatures, and distend and set in distend- \ed condition. In accordance with one embodiment of this invention the wad comprises `wool flock, .cotton fibre', cork or any other comminuted cellular or granularmaterial, the choice and proportion of a filler being dependent upon the degree of plasticity desired.

A suitable mixture is'stearine pitch 30%,l wood flour and wool flock 10%; these I percentages may, however, vary from 20% to 40% stearine pitch, 70% to 50% wood flour, and 15% to 5% wool flock.

In preparing the mixture, the pitch is I intrgdued into a jacketed mixer which may be heated. The material'is caused'to soften or melt through the application of heat and -the filler selected is introduced in small proportions while the mixing proceeds. The

v mixing is then continued until the filler is pressing portions of the material in individual dies to form finished wads. Any waste material resulting from the cutting of the wads from the sheets or in any other manner maybe returned to the mixer and reheatedl either alone or in connection with fresh mate'- rial. y

In Figure 1 the base-wad material is shownin the form after it has been extruded through a die to form a perforatedurod or tube 1.

From this a base-wad blank 2-may becut.

It will, however, be understood'that the basewad blank 2 may be formed by punching from a sheet or by separate formation by a die.

Referring tov Figures 2 and 3, the paper tube 3 and the metallic ,base 4 of. a shot shell are shown, the rim 5 being shown -as only partially formed lin Figure 2. The base 4 is provided with a primer socket 6 of any suitable construction, the vspecific o ne shown being that illustrated in Patent No. 1,541,438 and being provided with anchors 7 while arranged in the socket isa primer or battery cup 8 of any suitable construction; The base-wad blank 2=beinginserted in the shell and over the primer socket, is subjected to pressure in a heading machine as illustrated in Patent N o. 1,541,438 and as shown in Figure 3, in which 9 designates a tubular support having an annular recessvl() to receive thev flange 5, while insertible into vthe tube is a plunger 12 cooperating with a second or perforated plunger 11. In operation the plunger 11 is moved towards the support 9 and against the base of the shell, while the plunger 12 is moved into the shell to Aact upon the base-wad. This will cause the base-wad to be condensed and to close'in on the battery cup .and anchor, to'cause vthe anchor to become firmly imbedded in and interlock with the'base-wad. Furthermore the cooperation of the plunger 11 with the plunger 12 not only causes the end of the tube to be forced into the annular recess formed by the incomplete flange 5,'but the end of the plastic base-wad itself will flow out against the end of the aube; furthermorethe, pressing of the base Lgainstlthe shoulder will complete the up- ;etting of the, flange 5 and thus firmly cri ;he base on the tube. The result is, therefore, yhat the elements ofthe tube will become firmly nterlock'ed as shown in Figure 4 withthe v 1gas leaks,

base-wad interlocked with the base and with the tube,jwhile the tube is interlocked with the base.

AIt will, therefore, be seen that'the invention accomplishes its objects. The provision of the plastic'base-wad not only causes the material thereof to become distended and fiow 'under the pressure in the heading machine,

completely set condition and there will be' no tendency to spring back and open any recesses or crevices through which as ma escape. Moreover when the shell is red, the pressure developed in the gun acting against the plastic wad will serve rather yto close any in that the material will flow into rm sealing engagement vwith the parts of the shell. Accordingly all leakage of gases will be avoided.,v

It is obvious that various changes may be made in details of construction without departing from the spirit of'this invention; it is, therefore, to be understood that this invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown ,and described.

Hav-ing thus described the invention, what is claimed is 1.A cartridge shell havin a base wad,

the composition of the wad being Wood flour,

wool flock and stearine pitch, thereby to render said wad plastic under pressure.

.2. A cartridge shell having a non-resilient base wad, composed of comminuted filler and stearine pitch, said filler and pitch actingto Y render the wad plastic under pressure.V

' 3. A' cartridge shell having a non-resilient base wad composed of wood flour, wool flock and stearine pitch, vsaid pitch acting to render the wad plastic under pressure.

4. A cartridge shelll comprising a base, a tube seated therein, and a non-resilient :base wad condensed against and interlockin saidl tube and said base, said base. wad eing formed of wood flour, wool fiock and stearine pitch, which flows and sets under the pressure developed in condensing the same to secure such interlocking.

In testimony whereof we afix our signatures this 16th day of October, 1925.

` ARTHUR S. ONEIL.

ALFON S G. SCHURICHT. 

